Media as "The Watch Dog" or "The Stalker"

Since the publication of news papers, the media has assumed the role of the "watch dog" on the government. Collectively it has done a good job at keeping tabs on the government, especially the motives of politicians. Several scandals have been uncovered and first scooped by the media, revealing dirty politics and even dirtier politicians. One account was when writers from the Washington Post uncovered the Water Gate scandal during President Nixon's term. Today, with the accessibility of information and the public's ever increasing desire for the whole story, the media has crossed that fine line between "watch dog" and heavy stalker. Most recently, they have averted their attention and resources to stalking the Republican nominee for Vice President, Sarah Palin. Fairly unknown on a national level, Palin and her entire family have been experiencing the full force of the media ever since they were shoved into the spotlight. I understand that some people believe it is important to know everything about a candidate in order to trust them, but why do we need photos of her playing sports in High School? Who cares that she won a beauty pageant in Alaska? These minute details have no effect in the way I am going to vote, and if they have influence over others then I am concerned with the criteria on which these individuals base their votes. The Huffington Post has done an extraordinarily CREEPY job at digging up old Palin photos for one of their articles. When we are delving in to someone's past this way, or hacking into personal e-mail accounts, does anyone stop to ask whether or not this is morally expectable? I  don't think I like the way it looks like the media is handling their "watch dog" approach to politics. The public's need for information is getting out of hand, and is most likely only going to get worst. How can we stop this massive snowball from getting any bigger and destroying what government we have left? Or are we doomed to dealing with whatever scummy politicians are dumb enough to throw themselves into such a dirty game?